There have been periods where conditions have improved, flights have landed as normal and we have been able to accept diverted flights from other airports experiencing the same issues.
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Meeting our existing commitment to improve air quality: by supporting improved surface access that would increase the number of people, both passengers and employees, using public transport and encouraging and incentivising the use of new technology and cleaner vehicles.
The Airports Commission, which strongly recommended that Heathrow rather than Gatwick be allowed to expand, argued that a third runway could happen provided it did not delay London complying with European Union pollution regulations. “However it does look like the foggy conditions could remain throughout the morning, and we would ask customers to check with their airline about the status of their individual flight”, a Manchester airport spokesman said.
There are “huge benefits” for local communities in stopping arrivals scheduled between 04:30 and 06:00, he said, but there was also “a big cost” to the United Kingdom economy as they involve “valuable trading routes to the Far East, Singapore and Hong Kong”.
‘It’s not easy to resolve that.
“Heathrow expansion is not a choice between the economy or the environment – we can deliver both”, he added.
“This is a significant change”.
Mr Holland-Kaye said this was a question for the government, which has yet to announce its final decision.
According to the Financial Times, Boris, who spent millions developing plans for a hub airport in the Thames Estuary, said expanding Heathrow was the “wrong solution” for London.
Around 80% of the night flights at Heathrow are between 4.30am to 6am.
Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye has this week claimed that the expansion of Heathrow airport can be delivered within European Union air quality limits.
He said: “As so often with Heathrow in the past, it is all take and no give. Today’s hearings, apart from showing that Heathrow is willing to undermine the Airports Commission in pursuit of its own ends, prove once again that Heathrow expansion is the wrong solution to Britain’s aviation needs”. ‘It also makes it politically impossible for the government now to endorse the Airport Commission’s recommendation’.
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While a few of the Commission’s recommendations are dependent on action from other parties, including government and airlines, others are within Heathrow’s control and are already being worked on.
